MMA
Brett Okamoto, ESPN Staff Writer 6y

What's next for the winners and losers at UFC 226?

MMA, UFC

Daniel Cormier scored a historic win at UFC 226 on Saturday night in Las Vegas, becoming just the fifth two-weight champion in the promotion's history and the second to hold two belts simultaneously.

What's next for the current two-division champ, as well as the rest of the winners and losers of UFC 226? Here's ESPN's take.


Daniel Cormier, light heavyweight and heavyweight champion

Result: Defeated Stipe Miocic via first-round knockout

Next: Alexander Gustafsson (if Gustafsson defeats Volkan Oezdemir at UFC 227 on Aug. 4)

The earliest Brock Lesnar would even be eligible to return to the Octagon is in six months, due to an ongoing drug suspension. If Cormier wants to keep both belts (and why wouldn't he?), he can't sit on the sideline for half a year. He would need to take another fight before facing Lesnar.

And that fight would most likely be at light heavyweight. Why put the heavyweight title (and that lucrative Lesnar matchup) in jeopardy? Gustafsson is a bona fide No. 1 contender, and he and Cormier already produced a terrific fight in 2015. If Gustafsson wins at UFC 227, he's Cormier's next opponent (assuming he's healthy).


Stipe Miocic, heavyweight

Result: Lost to Cormier via first-round knockout

Next: Alistair Overeem

Miocic was clearly heartbroken after the loss, but he's still the longest-reigning heavyweight champion in the history of the UFC -- and he's only 35. That might not sound young for a professional athlete, but don't forget that the man who just defeated him is 39. Miocic has time to recapture the title.

Overeem, 38, is on a bit of a skid, having lost three of his past five. One of those losses came at the hands of Miocic in a failed title bid in 2016. Overeem hurt Miocic early but couldn't put him away. Miocic ultimately won by first-round knockout in front of his home crowd in Cleveland.

It's a rematch of an entertaining fight. Overeem, despite his struggles, is still highly ranked -- so it makes sense for Miocic. And for Overeem, it's a shot at revenge and a quick catapult back into the title conversation. UFC could do it at the end-of-the-year card on Dec. 29 in Las Vegas.


Derrick Lewis, heavyweight

Result: Defeated Francis Ngannou via unanimous decision

Next: Mark Hunt

On paper, wow, Saturday night was huge for Lewis ... right? A victory over Ngannou in the co-main event of one of the biggest cards of the year? Let's go.

Except, if you watched the fight, you can understand why Lewis was basically disgusted with the performance. Few strikes were thrown. Even fewer were landed. It was a forgettable affair. It was, however, Lewis' eighth win in nine fights. The only loss in that stretch was to Hunt last summer. Running it back makes sense.


Francis Ngannou, heavyweight

Result: Lost to Lewis via unanimous decision

Next: Loser of Stefan Struve vs. Marcin Tybura on July 22

For now, Ngannou is still one of the most promising future stars of the heavyweight division -- but that's certainly not a sure thing. He looked terrible over the weekend, no other way to say it. No confidence whatsoever. No evidence of a game plan. Just uncomfortable, start to finish.

What Ngannou really needs right now is a step down in competition and an opponent who will bring the fight to him. The UFC can't go back to the ground floor with him, but the loser of this July matchup would be out of the top 10. It's the best option for the suddenly perplexing Ngannou.


Mike Perry, welterweight

Result: Defeated Paul Felder via split decision

Next: Yancy Medeiros

Just keep the good times rolling with Perry. No need to overthink this. This might seem like a lazy answer -- "Hey, he was supposed to fight Medeiros at UFC 226, but Medeiros got hurt, so just book it again" -- but it's the right answer.

These two were paired with one another for a reason: entertainment. Fight of the Night potential. This matchup still makes as much sense as it did before.


Anthony Pettis, lightweight

Result: Defeated Michael Chiesa via second-round submission

Next: Evan Dunham

This might sound like a step down for the former champion -- and in some ways it is, as Dunham is ranked well below the man Pettis just beat -- but don't forget Dunham is 4-1-1 in his past six. Pettis is 3-3, albeit against much tougher competition.

This is mostly about timing. The UFC just announced a Dec. 15 event in Pettis' hometown, Milwaukee. He obviously wants to be on that card, but he told ESPN he's also interested in taking a bout before then. If that's the case, book him an appropriate matchup (of course), but don't look for the world here.

I'm not suggesting Dunham is an easy win for anyone, but he's not a top-10 killer. His finishing rate is relatively low. If Pettis can go out and pick up a win (which would set him on his first win streak since 2014), well, then he has momentum. And you can book him a highly ranked opponent in his backyard in December.


Paulo Costa, middleweight

Result: Defeated Uriah Hall via second-round TKO

Next: Israel Adesanya

Costa already made it clear he doesn't want this fight. He'd prefer a matchup against former champion Chris Weidman.

Adesanya, on the other hand, has firmly set his sights on Costa. Adesanya is 28. Costa is 27. They're both undefeated. They are at a point in their careers at which the UFC will usually match them up against a proven veteran, because it brings eyeballs and legitimizes their talent if they win.

But pairing them together would bring attention, too. Someone's zero has got to go. You know, that kind of thing. And stylistically, this is one that increases your heart rate just thinking about it.

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